2015 was a fabulous year for Shell Shocked Britain, as I took it around the country and spoke to hundreds of people about the long term legacy of war trauma.

It was wonderful to hear stories from the audience and hear many say that in the light of my talk they would go back to their own family history and look back with compassion at those who lived through the Great War, and its aftermath.

In October I was thrilled to be asked up to Perth in Scotland for the launch of their wonderful Great War project. They had used information from Shell Shocked Britain for one of their story boards (with permission of course) and they invited me to be there on the big day. I couldn't miss the chance to take Shell Shocked Britain to Scotland for the first time, even though it meant flights and car hire and driving to a lovely B&B all by myself. I sold all the books I took with me and met the local Mayor (pictured), a terrific supporter of those affected by post traumatic stress.

To end the year I gave a talk at The National Archives in Kew - something I was really nervous about, having undertaken research up there many times and knowing how expert the audiences can be. It went really well though, and I was lucky enough to sell lots of books in the shop afterwards - a great day and a chance to meet up with old friends who work and research there.

I have already given one talk in 2016, to the Bristol Theosophical Society,and will shortly post up the dates already booked for this year, including the Tiverton Literary Festival, and at Seale Hayne for Devon Remembers.

In February I was lucky enough to be invited to talk about Shell Shocked Britain as part of a series of talks on the Great War at Southend Forum, a fabulous venue. A full room gave me a very warm reception, followed by a lively question and answer session.

Simon Wallace, Communities & Social Inclusion Manager at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council was kind enough to send me the following review of the talk and recommendation to anyone who might book me in the future.

Suzie’s talk “Shell Shocked Britain” proved a fitting finale for the current series of talks entitled “Remembering the Great War” held at The Forum Southend (www.theforumsouthend.co.uk)

Her talk sensitively introduced the subject, and neatly showed the new and devastating impact of “total war” and the impact on many people’s mental health and wellbeing – either serving in the trenches or on the home front. The mental health legacy resulting from this conflict was clearly illustrated through moving personal stories from her own family history and from graphic local newspaper accounts at the time.

Suzie also looked at how treatments and “cures” were sought, as she examined the rise of Spiritualism after the Great War and as surviving soldiers, families and widows sought to find ways of coping with stress, a profound sense of loss and the death of loved ones or fallen comrades.

Her talk tackles a difficult subject area and the enduring stigma and media stereotyping still associated with mental health, breakdown and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) .This was in part reflected in the lively post-talk Q& A session and the large number of questions for our guest speaker.

If you want an engaging and informed speaker, who has sought out and highlighted a little understood, but important aspect of the Great War, I’d recommend Suzie Grogan - and her book is rather good too! (insert book details)

Many thanks Simon. I really appreciated the support you and your team gave me on the night and would love to come back East again soon!